A blog by your local public health experts

Keep food establishments safe.

We can all make grocery stores and other places safer during COVID-19.

We all need to eat! Some of us work in essential services: cashiers, stockers at grocery stores, or chefs at restaurants providing take-out food. Follow our guidance and recommendations to help keep everyone safe and healthy.

By now, you’ve hopefully become familiar with social distancing. Coming within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for 10 minutes or more could result in exposure to the virus. People who don’t have symptoms can spread the virus, so you should be careful any time you leave your home.

We recommend grocery stores and other essential businesses place tape 6 feet apart where customers stand in lines. Designate staff to enforce customer distancing. This also applies to businesses that have waiting areas outside for pick-up orders. Regularly screen employees for symptoms and immediately send sick employees home. Grocery stores can also put up sneeze guards at check-out stands to help reduce exposures.

Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces often is essential. Always wear gloves when cleaning commonly touched surfaces. First, clean surfaces to remove dirt and debris. Next, disinfect surfaces to kill germs. Use products with at least 70% alcohol solutions or that have EPA-approved emerging viral claims. You can also use a bleach solution of four teaspoons of bleach to a quart of water. Throw away gloves after use and scrub your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.

Businesses should promote and provide online ordering to reduce customers coming into their location. Take only online orders if possible.

Stay home when sick, wash your hands and use gloves to keep food safe to eat and coworkers and customers healthy.

We can all help by staying home when we’re sick, keeping 6 feet away from each other, washing our hands more often, and covering our coughs and sneezes!